US 11,754,419 B2
Auto-detection of communication module protocol in utility metering systems
Peggy R. Devereaux, St. Louis, MO (US); and Oscar Lopez Aguirre, St. Louis, MO (US)
Assigned to Aclara Technologies LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Aclara Technologies LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/112,555.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/944,038, filed on Dec. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0172764 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
Int. Cl. G01D 4/00 (2006.01); H04L 45/74 (2022.01)
CPC G01D 4/004 (2013.01) [H04L 45/74 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A metering system, comprising:
a utility meter comprising a processing circuit and a communication module interface;
a communication module electronically coupled to the utility meter via the communication module interface, the communication module configured to transmit information to, and receive information from, the utility meter;
the processing circuit of the utility meter comprising one or more electronic processors configured to:
receive a first message from the communication module;
read a header frame of the first message;
determine a message type of the first message based on the header frame, wherein the determined message type is one of an ANSI-type message and an IEC-type message;
verify the first message based on the determined message type; and process the first message based on the determined message type,
wherein the determined message type is determined to be an IEC-type message based on an immediately preceding message being an IEC-type message.